16.10.2019

Walking the Talk- WWF Living Planet Centre Tour in Pictures

On 3rd October Fit for the Future members were treated to a site tour of the fantastic WWF Living Planet Centre as they met to discuss sustainable waste management. WWF's centre is not only an exemplar of low-carbon office design but was largely built using recycled materials. We bring you a round-up of the day's highlights, in pictures.

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15.10.2019

Fit for the Future hits Lord’s Cricket Ground for Our Most Sustainable Conference Yet

Recent announcements for this year’s Network Harvest include a keynote from the inspirational Farhana Yamin, internationally recognised environmental lawyer and lead author for the IPCC assessment report. As we gear up to what will be our most sustainable conference yet, we’re delighted to bring you a sneak-peak inside our iconic venue, Lord’s Cricket Ground. Dr Russell Seymour, Sustainability Manager at Lord’s, will be taking members on guided tours as part of our event on 6th November.

Renewable energy, Solar, Wind, Heat pumps, Biogas production, Water and Waste
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10.10.2019

Where to Begin with Energy Auditing: A Guide to Getting Started

An energy audit can help those managing a site or building to make significant savings through better understanding of energy consumption, and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency. At a recent Fit for the Future event, auditors from within the network provided hands-on training for their peers. Practitioners from organisations including Historic Royal Palaces, Historic England, National Trust and Guide Dogs practiced the skills needed to carry out their own audits. A presentation given by Oliver Ingwall-King, Energy Advisor for West Suffolk Council at the event included the following key points on where to begin with energy auditing.

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16.09.2019

Declaring a Climate Emergency- What does it mean for third and public sector organisations?

The first Climate Emergency motion in the UK was passed in Bristol in November 2018. Since then towns, councils, organisations and businesses across the nation have followed suit including Fit for the Future members Ealing Council and Field Studies Council. But what exactly does declaring a climate emergency mean, and why might charities and other organisations decide to do it?

Climate-change adaptation measures
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04.09.2019

A step by step guide to the Met Office UKCP18 User Interface

Earlier this year we invited the environmental practitioners in our network to join us at the Met Office HQ in Exeter for in depth insight into the 2018 UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) from the people who created them. Practitioners were given the opportunity to look at the latest climate projections produced by the Met Office, delve into the data for themselves, and start to think about how to develop an adaptation strategy armed with some of this knowledge. The event included practical guidance on how to access and use the wealth of UK Climate Projections data now available. We have used this guidance to create a simple ‘step by step’ guide to the Met Office UKCP18 User Interface for our members.

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10.08.2019

How to Develop a Sustainability Strategy- A Guide for Charities

Our Developing Policies and Strategies for Sustainability event took place this 18th July at National Trust HQ in Swindon. The event was for those wondering if their charity or organisation needs a sustainability policy or strategy, what to include, and how to put it together. Representatives from English Heritage and Sustainability West Midlands shared their expertise with peers from The Royal Yachting Association, Cats Protection, RNLI, Youth Hostel Association and more. We bring you a roundup of some of the key principles for a good sustainability strategy. For full transcripts and presentations, including a case study on how English Heritage developed their new Sustainable Conservation Strategy, head to the resources section of our members area.

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08.08.2019

IPCC Report on Climate Change and Land- What Our Members Are Saying

A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released today, focuses on climate change and land, honing in on issues including desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management and food security.The report reveals that agriculture, forestry and other types of land use account for 23% of human greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time natural land processes absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to almost a third of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry. Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II said, "Land already in use could feed the world in a changing climate and provide biomass for renewable energy, but early, far-reaching action across several areas is required. Also, for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity.” We take a look at what some of our members are saying about the new report, from the importance of restoring natural habitats such as ancient woodlands to the action needed to support global food systems.

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01.08.2019

Peer Power! Fit for the Future in Action at English Heritage’s Wrest Park

Peer reviews are a great example of Fit for the Future in action. Instead of going to a costly consultant, members can benefit from the expertise and guidance of fellow network members. For our latest peer review, Mike from English Heritage, welcomed Stuart from The Rothschild Foundation and Tony from Historic Royal Palaces to Wrest Park in Bedfordshire. He was seeking opinions and guidance on effective energy saving measures in historic settings, and replacing old oil boilers with more efficient and sustainable systems.  

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31.07.2019

Accessing Fit for the Future Resources- A Step by Step Guide

Fit for the Future members have exclusive access to an online bank of resources that includes case studies, presentations, templates, reports, tools and more. Maybe you're looking for a guide to making the business case for sustainability and an accompanying template, or the presentations and notes from our climate change adaptation events. Follow this step by step guide to browse and download resources to support your work. You can also upload a resource to share with fellow members.

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24.07.2019

Butterflies and Botanicals - Fit for the Future Welcomes New Members

We are delighted with the growth of our network over recent months as more organisations from the third-sector and beyond seek to become climate-friendly, adaptive and resilient. Following six new members in June, we welcome another two this week, and are delighted to report the return of Oxfam to our network. These diverse organisations bring committed people and practical experience, and we look forward to helping them achieve their sustainability aims.

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